LGBTQ news and entertainment
JoeMyGod reports that the NYPD has closed the streets around the LGBT Community Center in the West Village as a massive crowd prepares to step off and march in honor of murdered gay man, Mark Carson.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and DOMA plaintiff Edie Windsor were spotted at the front of the march.
All photos via JoeMyGod.
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| photo via NYPost/Christopher Sadowski |
The New York Post reports that the man accused of shooting New Yorker Mark Carson in the face at point blank range laughed and boasted about the shooting shortly after being arrested.
“Yeah, I shot him in the head,” sneered Elliot Morales, 33, while “laughing on the ground” when cops were handcuffing him for shooting Mark Carson, 32, early Saturday morning.
Morales today was held without bail on charges of second-degree murder as a hate crime, menacing and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, court records show.
“Look at these faggots,” said Morales, who was accompanied by two friends, according to police.
“What are you, gay wrestlers?” he challenged Carson and his pal, who were wearing boots, cut-off shorts and tank tops.
Carson and his friend kept walking to avoid a confrontation, but Morales — whose pals left him before he turned violent — followed the duo and asked Carson, “Do you want to die here?”
Morales allegedly pulled out a silver Taurus .38-caliber revolver and blasted the man in the cheek. Carson died shortly after at Beth Israel Hospital.
Morales has six prior arrests, including attempted murder in 1998 and others for criminal possession of a weapon.
He’s served more than nine years in both city and state prisons.
The NY Post says Morales’ two friends have been questioned and released, and are considered “cooperative” in the ongoing investigation.
(via source)
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Ever wonder what Jesus would say about all this violence?
As folks admonish and attack gays and lesbians verbally, do you think those actions could lead others to escalate to this level?
Attacked, kicked, bones broken, people killed in the streets. Is this what Jesus would advocate?
In a word: no.
Think about what your words can do, haters.
(image via Memeographs)
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| All photos via JMG |
Late last night, hundreds attended a candlelight vigil in Greenwich Village to remember Mark Carson, who was shot and killed in a hate crime just hours earlier. Speaker after speaker exhorted the crowd: “Say his name! Mark Carson, Mark Carson, MARK CARSON!”
The event was organized by Adam Feldman and speakers included activists Eugene Lovendusky, Robert Pinter, and Brendan Fay. Among the local politicos in attendance were state Sen. Brad Hoylman, state Assemblyman Micah Kellner, and City Council candidate Corey Johnson.
According to Joe Jervis at JoeMyGod, speaker after speaker exhorted the crowd: “Say his name!” Everybody: “Mark Carson, Mark Carson, MARK CARSON!”
On Monday there will be a rally at the LGBT Community Center at 5:30PM, followed by a march to the scene of the murder.
CNN has named the alleged suspect in custody. He reportedly confessed to the NYPD early this morning.
Around 4 a.m., a police officer, responding to a radio alert of the shooting, came across the alleged gunman and apprehended him. The suspect turned over a silver Taurus .38-caliber six-shot revolver, according to police.
Police later identified the suspect as Elliot Morales, 33. Police said the suspect had forged identification and they used facial recognition technology to determine his true identity.
Morales faces a charge of second-degree murder as a hate crime, authorities said. The identities of the suspect’s two companions — at least one of whom Kelly said left the suspect before the shooting — are still not known.
(from JMG)
The NY Daily News has published the name and photo of last night’s victim of the fatal anti-gay hate crime last night in Greenwich Village.
Mark Carson, 32, was confronted, harrassed, then stalked and shot in the face by an as-yet unidentified assailant. The shooter was with two friends when he first approached Carson and his friend on Sixth Ave. about midnight, police said.
From the Daily News:
Sources said Carson and his 31-year-old friend were dressed in tank tops and cut-off shorts with boots. “Look at these faggots,” one of the suspect’s crew barked at the pair. “What are you, gay wrestlers?” The two groups exchanged words, but Carson and his pal decided it was better to walk away.
But as they turned the corner, the suspect and one of his cohorts confronted the pair again and taunted them by shouting “faggott” and “queer,” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. One of the bigots got nervous and ran away as the suspect asked the two gay men, “Do you want to die here?” Kelly said. Suddenly, the suspect whipped out a silver .38-caliber revolver and shot Carson in the face. The shooter ran away as Carson collapsed on the sidewalk.
As emergency crews rushed Carson to Beth Israel Hospital, rookie cop Henry Huot was responding to the job and spotted the gunman at W. Third and MacDougal Sts. — where he ordered the suspect to stop.
The suspect was cuffed as Carson died on arrival at the hospital.
There will be a candle light vigil held at the scene of the crime tonight at midnight.
Funny observations that let you know when you’ve lived in NYC too long – from Buzzfeed:
1. Dinner = hitting up your slice place at 1 a.m.
2. Nothing fills you with more rage than getting on a crowded subway car and suddenly hearing, “It’s showtime!”
3. In the summer, you consider the wind from an approaching subway car to be “a nice breeze.”
4. You go to the bodega in your pajamas
Click here for 21 more signs you’ve lived in NYC too long – at Buzzfeed.
But all kidding aside, who could possibly live in NYC too long? Love it!
Just realized “Ollies To Go” is just around the corner from where I’m staying in NYC.
I discovered Ollie’s about 20 years ago when I lived here full time. Great chinese food: dumplings, cold sesame noodles, orange chicken, everything…
So excited it’s so close. I stopped and got some things to snack on tonight.
Yay, NYC!
Over 2,000 people move backwards through Times Square as an improvisational experiment.
Back in the day, I’d have done this as a young actor. Gotta say though, this looks WAY hard.
Follow Improv Everywhere on Facebook.
(via JMG)
What a strange story to be coming out of NYC today…
Leesa Dahl, a piano teacher and an opera accompanist, apparently was offended somehow by the pro-marriage equality sign on The Chipped Cup, her local coffee shop.
So she posted on the shop’s Facebook page: ’You just lost two local customers with your political sandwich board… We were so happy when you joined the neighborhood and were faithful, but alienating the majority of the population is a really irritating and dumb move. We will encourage others not to patronize your business.’
The conversation continued to escalate when the owners responded with a benign “Thank goodness” to which Ms. Dahl responded “Go f*ck yourself.”
On Twitter she added: It’s too bad @ChippedCupNY discriminates against 98% of their customer base by being H8ful!’
In response, here is what the owners of the coffee shop wrote: “Hi Everyone, I’m the owner of a coffee shop in New York. Yesterday we put out our sandwich board with a message in support of Marriage Equality. This was one woman’s reaction:”
(source)
New York City actor and comedian Michael Hartney writes on his blog:
This afternoon, my partner Turtle walked out of our apartment to grab a bite. Before he even left our block, a man called him “faggot” as he passed. Rather than let the guy get away with it, Turtle decided to confront this man about his hateful behavior. And he filmed it.
Notice how well Turtle handles himself in this video. No need to fight hate with hate; calling him “slick hair” is as hateful as Turtle gets (which is hilarious and awesome). He lets that ignorant clown have it with poise and decency. Not surprising, considering Turtle is the absolute best guy around and I couldn’t be prouder of him.
Our neighbors saw this altercation, and told Turtle that this man has been harassing their thirteen year-old son for years, sometimes even calling him “faggot” while the kid was in recess at school with his peers. They know who he is and where he lives. They’ve been too scared for the kid’s safety to do anything about it. But it’s going to end today.
Let’s hear it for Turtle!
Clearly the bigot had no idea a “faggot” would stand up for himself. I’ll be curious to see if the man’s identity becomes public as this story has gone viral today.
I personally think it would be grand if everyone in the neighborhood pointed and called Mr. Slick Hair “faggot” every time he walks down the street.
The couple plans to file a complaint today.
(via JMG)